Chapter 50

October 14, 1912

It had been nearly six months since the sinking of the Titanic, and Jack and Rose have learned a lot from their friends. Jack has since been able to drive on his own. He had also learn a few basic repairs to his own personal Model T, with Jesse, that Jesse's father had given him months prior, and Rose has learned a lot about taking care of the house, now that Jesse, his father, Karl, and Fabrizio had built a couple of additional rooms to the house. They must still go to the bathroom that was located at the outhouse behind the house. Jesse and his father have no plans to install electricity nor running water at this time to the house, and Jack was content with it, as it reminded him of being back home at Chippewa Falls. They have told Rose she needed to have her rest as to not harm her unborn child.

With everyone content with their dinners, Jesse's father picks back up with his newspapers once more. Just as he was about to grumble that it had nothing worth reading in that paper, and was ready to throw it in the potbellied stove as a fire starter, something caught his attention. Mr. Williams took a sip of his coffee, then read that there was an assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt, as he emerged from the Gilpatrick Hotel in Milwaukee while campaigning for presidency. Stories like these is what sparks his interests, especially with the upcoming presidential elections and of anything New Mexico related. He kept reading, about a crazed madman who was a saloon-keeper from New York, who had been stalking him for weeks, shot Roosevelt once in the chest with a .38-caliber Colt Police Positive Special revolver.

"Look at this! People outta be ashamed of themselves!" Mr. Williams backhands his paper, then continues reading, after he took a sip of his coffee. "But at least ol' Teddy had the heart not to hang this man. After all, he was an experienced hunter." he gave a small chuckle. "He's got my vote! Didn't you say you're from Milwaukee son?" He folded the corner of the paper, then looked at Jack.

"No, sir. Chippewa Falls."

"My eyes are goin' bad. I might need me some of them specs sooner than later. Like Teddy's. He's got some good-looking specs." Mr. Williams says, as he continued to read the paper. Jack snickered at something at the thought in his head. He pictured Mr. Williams with a monocle, as he folded the paper to see what Jack was laughing at. He raised an eyebrow.

"What's funny, son?" he asked Jack. Jack closed his forefinger and thumb, then encircled his eye, as if wearing the monocle. Mr. Williams shook his head. "I don't know how some people can hold them, but I can't. Besides, both my eyes are gettin' bad."

"Let me see." Jesse says, pushing his hair back before leaning over his father's shoulder to get a look at the piece of the article. "It seems that a piece of his speech documents and his glasses that were in his pockets seemed to have stopped the bullet from going further." Jesse read, before his father yanked the paper away, who almost spilled his coffee in the process. He hates when people spoil his stories, especially from his own son. He rolled the paper, then tapped it at his son's head.

"Ah-how! Why'd you do that?" Jesse yelped, rubbing his head.

"Tryin' to make a liar out of me, huh? Well, we'll see about that." his father says, then grumbles as he flipped the pages. "Woodrow Wilson still leading. Blah, blah, blah! Hey, what happened to Taft? This is why you kids should be voting." Jesse and Jack looked at each other, then shrugged their shoulders. Jesse has hardly heard his father speak about political topics around the house, just what he read in the papers. He closed his newspapers, then puts it on the table, before he turned back to his son.

"I think it's high time you brought that girl here-"

"But Father, the business-"

"Now, now. I think I can still handle it. Besides, she misses you more than anything in this world." Jesse drooped his shoulders.

"Okay, I guess I'll see her." Jesse ran his hand through his hair, then he begins to pack for his trip, back to New York.

...

October 15, 1912

Jack sees a huge case building as he is asked once again to sketch the same escaped fugitive who was still at large. He had also been asked to photograph the area where the alleged man has been seen. A while back a young couple, talking in their native Pueblo language tried to describe to Jack that they had a missing son, and were clearly distraught over his disappearance. He did his best at drawing the missing person in question, until a Pueblo came into his office. They spoke, then translated the information to Jack, who then tried again to draw the person in detail. Jack knew this was no picnic; he even had Spaniards coming into the room, and sometimes he had no help, as he tried his best to sketch the person they were trying to find.

Later at the house he asked Jesse for help in his native language, after he overheard his father talking about Jesse's past with Fabrizio and Karl, and to some extent Rose. Jack was almost lost when he was with Jesse in the house, saying complex vocals of the various Native Americans who resided in nearby reservations. He was nearly taken aback again by how beautiful Jesse was, and he almost looked like his sister's twin. He even saw little Jack, a tiny version of Jesse, the same dark hair, the dark eyes, and even had his playful spirit.

Just then Jack snapped out, after seeing Jesse's father, standing at the doorway. It was almost getting cold, and Jack wanted to go to Santa Monica with Rose, to do all the things he wanted to do there. He decided now will be the best time, before winter set in. Jesse agreed as well, and wanted to go to New York, to see his nephew once more, and finally get to see Marion as well. Jesse had left earlier in the morning to go back to New York and see his new-found fiancé and nephew. He had already given the couple a farewell the night before he left, as he slept in the train car, coat rolled on his lap, and dreamed about the events leading up to that time.

"Tell Marion I said 'hi'." Rose had said, as she hugged Jesse tightly, then he congratulated the couple with their kid and their upcoming trip to Santa Monica. He hugs her back before going off to sleep in his new room.

"I sure will." Jesse says, then closing his door, before going to sleep, as he had to take the early morning train.

...

Jesse arrives at the depot the next morning, awaiting his train journey. The air was getting a bit nippy, the cold breeze fluttered through his hair, as he places his suitcase down on the platform. Jesse carefully removes his scarf, his early gift from Marion who had sent it to him weeks prior, as a young woman is seen running across the platform, towards him.

"Jesse!" Jesse turned his head, as the young woman runs to him, before grabbing his arms.

"M-Mae!?" Jesse managed to push his hair back before the girl had a firm grip on his arms, and raised an eyebrow, as he was shocked the girl had still recognized him.

"You came back, and you're even more beautiful than the day I met you," Mae said, pushing Jesse's soft hair away from his eyes. For a moment they stood there, their eyes locking with each other. Jesse raised an eyebrow once more.

"What's this about?"

"Please! Don't go again. Please, Jess, I'll change." Mae put her arms on Jesse's firm shoulders. God. How he felt so strong. How things back at the school had ruined the moment for the two, and the other boys picked on him; how he was very different from them, but nonetheless, he finished school at the top of his class. Here he was; talented, skilled, smart, mature. Its been two years since they have seen each other, and yet, Mae wanted to take him back, after what she has done to torment his life. She began to cry, as Jesse slung his jacket over his shoulder, and looking to the direction as another train was approaching on the opposite side of his train. Somewhere a conductor yelled.

"Topeka route! Topeka, Kansas! All aboard!" Soon, the bells began to ring, and the the train began blowing puffs of steam. Jesse looked at his ticket, then picked up his suitcase, as he lays a gentle hand on her shoulder. He had firm, hard-working hands for someone so young, so beautiful. Mae imagined what his whole body was like, as Jesse flicked his hair from his eyes once more.

"Please Jesse. We have so much to work out here." She began to cry again, as the train continued to build up steam pressure, and soon began to whistle.

"My apologies, Mae, but I have someone now." he gave her a small but beautiful, heart-warming smile, then he stepped into the train car, as Mae watched, from the platform. Jesse made his way through the car before finally finding his seat. A man was reading a book, looked up as Jesse made his way past the man, while Jesse held his hair away from his eyes. He watched on as Jesse found himself a seat, then continued to look on as the young man flicked his head, and both locked eyes before Jesse turned away, his hair falling over his eyes once more. Jesse took off his coat, folded it to use as his pillow, snuggled in the seat, before closing his eyes. A couple of passengers sat where Jesse was, along with a girl who only looked to be a few years younger than him watched, without him knowing, with interest as he slept. Meanwhile, Mae watched, with tears in her eyes, as the train slowly clacked on the rails, before letting out steam, then picking up speed.

Mr. Williams helps Rose and Jack as they prepared to board a train from the Albuquerque terminal bound for Santa Monica. He had noticed Rose was eating more than her fair share of the meals, and had warned her not to eat too much. He knew she was pregnant, but had told her numerous times not to eat too much, especially for the long journey ahead. Mr. Williams sets down Rose's suitcase as Jack comes onto the platform. Rose takes out a pickle from a small bag she had bought earlier, and dips it in a peanut butter, then wraps it in toast coated in mayonnaise before taking a bite from it. Jesse's father cringes, but he knew what his late wife had eaten before she had Jesse.

"When my late wife was pregnant with Jesse she craved strawberries, chocolate, and to some extent lemons, and we had thought it would be a girl, or so we thought." Mr. Williams says, as if remembering it just like it was yesterday. "When Jesse was born we had to use that name, as we agreed if the baby was born it would be 'Jesse' and thus that's his name. Now I don't believe about the foods you eat or other wives' tales, but my family all agreed that if you crave sweets, you will have a girl, and for the tangy and spicy foods, it will be a boy. But you, you seem to crave all, which will tell me that will most likely have a boy."

Jack comes from behind Rose, then wraps his arms around her bulging bump, and gives her a gentle kiss. "Boy or girl, it doesn't matter." Jack laughs. "As long its healthy and happy, I'm happy."

"That's what my wife had said as well. There comes your train." The train approaches the platform. Rose smiles, as the excitement comes flooding to her again, like she was that night they were together in the car in the cargo hold. She and Jack were fulfilling their promise back on the ship; riding the roller coaster until they threw up, drinking cheap beers once more and to top it off, riding horses like men. She knew her pregnancy would complicated things, but she had an optimistic view she will have a wonderful time there at Santa Monica. A month prior Jack purchased a ring from his earnings at the marshal station and some of his portraits. It was a simple gold band, with a small diamond perched on it. It was indeed small, but beautiful nonetheless. He couldn't wait to see the ring on her finger. He remembered Jesse had taken some small Native American items he would give to Marion as well. Jack had seen Jesse driving to a nearby reservation where he purchased a small turquoise band for Marion, that same day he brought bedding for the house.

Mr. Williams notices Jack's quiet demeanor, as he looked off into the distance. "Are you nervous, son?" he asks.

"Is it that obvious?" Jack asks, as he slowly turns to face him.

Henry puts a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Just give her a memorable experience, and tell her you love her. Relax. Be yourself, and you will be fine."

"But how will I know if the…you know…"

"You will know, when the feeling and moment is right. When it all becomes a slow blur, you will know it once that moment is perfect. You will become more nervous than now, but as you walk on that beach there in Santa Monica, that time will be right for you to propose to Rose." Henry puts his arm around the young man's neck as if they were old friends, then thumbs at her. "Tell her you love her, then you give her the band, as you get on one knee and you propose to her. I'm sure you will both have a great time out there on that beach."

Mr. Williams puts a reassuring hand on Jack's shoulder once more. Jack smiles, then takes a deep breath. He turns to see Rose, red curls billowing in the wind, as she stands there on the platform, looking at them both. The train lets out a whistle, then the conductor yells "All aboard!" Jack hugs Mr. Williams, then Rose, before making their way to the train. The couple finds their seats, then Jack opens a window and pokes his head out, waving as the train whistles for the last time, then clacking as the train pulls westward, to Santa Monica. Mr. Williams stands his ground, as he sees Jack pulls his head back in the cabin when the train blows its whistle for the last time, into the hills.